ALL CARD GAMES
INTRODUCTION
The easiest game around and a favorite for children just starting to play cards. Read to the end for an adult version.
HOW TO PLAY SNAP
Deal all cards evenly between the players face down. Players hold the cards in their hands face down without looking at them.
Each player takes it in turn to play a card. The card must be played turning it away from them without looking at it first.
When two cards match the first player to put their hand on the cards while saying Snap gets to keep those cards. They keep all the cards and put them under their other cards.
Play restart with the next player who would have played before. If two players say Snap at the same time, the winner is the one whose hand is on the cards.
When a player has ran out of cards, if more than two players are left then they are no longer in the game.
When two players remain and only one player has cards they play their cards one-by-one, the player with no cards can call Snap and continue to play.
The game finishes when one player has all the cards, they are the winner.
THE DEAL
All cards are dealt evenly between players. It does not matter if some players have one more card than others. Players hold the cards in their hands face down, without looking at them.
THE PLAY
Player one places one card into the middle to start the pile. It’s played without looking at it first. Players take turns to place cards onto the pile.
HOW TO WIN
The player who has all the cards at the end wins.
CALLING SNAP
When two cards match e.g. 5 and 5, the first player to put their hand on the pile while saying “snap” gets to keep all cards. The cards are placed under the winning player’s other cards.
RESTARTING PLAY
If two players say “snap” at the same time, the winner is the one whose hand is on the pile. Play restarts with the next player who would have played before.
NO CARDS LEFT
When a player has run out of cards and there are more than two players left, then they are no longer in the game.
ONE PLAYER LEFT
When two players remain and only one player has cards, they play their cards one by one. The player with no cards can call “snap” and continue to play if they win.
THE WINNER
The game finishes when one player has all the cards. They are the winner.
ADDITIONAL RULES
If a player calls “snap” or puts their hand on the pile at the wrong time the cards are split between the other players.
If all cards have been played but there are no “snaps’ then the plaver who played the last card wins.
VIDEO OF HOW TO PLAY SNAP
TIPS
Keeping a hand next to the pile of cards allows players to quickly call “snap”. If players get too close they can agree all players must keep their hands on the corner of the table.
STRATEGY
Playing quickly makes the game more fun.
It can be better to play a card rather than looking for a ‘snap’. This way players block their opponents.
EXTRAS
If ‘snap’ is called after another card has been plaved on top of the matching cards, it’s too late. Play continues with no winner.
SIMILAR GAMES
IRISH SNAP
Add the following rules to make Snap more competitive:
Players call out a card at the same time as playing, starting with A 2 3 up to K. If the card played matches the card called, that is also a snap. The last player to put their hand on the pile takes all the cards. Each player must try to play all the cards from their hand. The loser is the one with all the cards at the end.
Make this game even harder by adding the rule that each player must call “snap” at least once after they have played all their cards.
- EGYPTIAN RAT SLAP
- SPEED
